Made my own mini picture book

In the past I used to love making my own mini art books / sketchbooks. But I lost the spark for it when I started studying two faculties at the same time (who would have thought, that when you have too much on your plate your creativity is out of the window).

For some time now I was having an itch, that it’s time to go back to it. So I was wondering what way I should go - if they should be more narrative or totally random illustrations, that have a theme in common.

In the end, I decided to treat it partly as another sketchbook, but this time it was to focus on the creative invention of forms. I already know in which techniques I want to create my illustrations, how to build up painterly structures, but I feel a certain lack when it comes to inventing. It's not entirely in my nature to invent non-existent things, organisms or creatures. I have always looked up to artists for whom it is natural. Such an example is Estee Zales (whose wonderful substack I recommend - it's not only beautiful but also well written). Her ease to create fantastic forms and compositions is absolutely fascinating and I envy her for that (in a good way).

Hence my idea for “30 trees that never existed”. A very simple, even minimalist concept - 30 sketches, each on one page. All presented in the form of a leporello, which I created from scratch (I cut the paper, glued it together, embroidered it and glued the covers on). Maybe some of the trees aren't so unrealistic, but that wasn't the point. The aim was to play with the form, to create a world, which is exclusively mine. Below you can see the whole thing.

It's been two weeks since the art book was created and I can already tell that the work has not been a waste. I have the feeling that something has unlocked in my mind, as if I have slightly opened a door leading to something new. We'll see what comes of it in a while. Hope you like the final result of this mini art book (as much as I do).

Have a calm rest of the week,

Karolina

P.S. Do you have a favourite tree? Mine are definitely plane trees - I just love how majestic they can be.